Strut proudly presents the first official
remastered reissue of Lafayette Afro Rock Band's elusive funk/Afro
original album, 'Malik,' originally released in 1974. In 1971, an
undocumented seven-member Afro-American ensemble known as the Bobby Boyd
Congress made a transformative journey from the United States to
France. Bandleader Frank Abel recollects, "We sensed that the soul and
funk market was saturated back home, and our original plan was a brief
6-month stint in Paris. Surprisingly, we ended up staying for a decade."
Upon lead singer Bobby Boyd's return to the U.S., the group rebranded
as Ice and crossed paths with independent producer Pierre Jaubert, a
seasoned studio professional with credits on groundbreaking recordings
alongside Charles Mingus, John Lee Hooker, and Archie Shepp, among
others.
Drawing
inspiration from Motown's work ethic, Jaubert initiated regular
rehearsals with Ice. He recalled, "I didn't want to mimic Berry, but
with seven talented musicians collaborating daily, something unique
emerged. " The band, residing in Paris and immersed in the
African-dominated Barbesse district, began infusing African elements
into their music frequently performing with Paris-dwelling Camaroonian
and legendary composer Manu Dibango.
This
remastered reissue, the first of its kind, meticulously crafted by The
Carvery from the original tapes, showcases the album in its entirety and
includes the full original artwork.
Despite
a limited impact upon its initial release, 'Malik' found appreciation
as hip-hop culture flourished in the '80s, establishing itself as a rich
source of samples and riffs. 'Conga' was featured in the 'Ultimate
Breaks And Beats' series, while the opening horn line from 'Darkest
Light' became a pivotal hip-hop motif, employed by Jay-Z, Public Enemy,
Wreckx 'N' Effect, and many others.
Under the new moniker Lafayette Afro Rock
Band, the group's music transitioned to predominantly instrumental
compositions, featuring a denser Afro-funk sound. Their inaugural
recording with the new name, 'Soul Makossa, ' included a compelling
rendition of Dibango's classic and the impactful break in 'Hihache.' The
subsequent release a year later, 'Malik,' refined their sound with the
percussive Afro party jam 'Conga, ' the atmospheric vocoder and
piano-led piece 'Djungi,' and the robust funk of 'Darkest Light.'
- 1 Djungi
- 2 Raff
- 3 Conga
- 4 Avi-vo
- 5 Malik
- 6 Darkest Light
- 7 Baba Hya
Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Malik
- Product Code:New
- Availability:In Stock
-
£26.99